Playing die



Feb. 17, 1970 H. E. L. THOMASSEN-BEHLE 3,

PLAYING DIE Filed March 7, 1967 United States Patent O 3,495,832 PLAYING DIE Helga Emily Louise Thomassen-Behle, Bnnde, Netherlands, assignor to Carel Vorstelman, Huizen, Netherlands Filed Mar. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 621,272 Claims priority, application Netherlands, Mar. 14, 1966, 6603303 Int. Cl. A6315 9/04 US. Cl. 273146 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A playing die having a recessed chamber in each of its faces which is closed on its outer side by a transparent cover wall in the face of the die and which has a number of individually marked pockets formed therein, a ball being placed in each chamber for free movement therein which ball may enter any one of the chamber pockets, the result of a die throw thus being determined by the pocket receiving the ball of the chamber in the upwardly facing die face.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a playing die.

In the conventional dice each of the six faces of the die carries an individual symbol, for instance one of the numbers 1 to 6, whereby on throwing the die six different results of the throw are possible, the result being determined by the symbol on the die face which is turned upwardly as the die comes to rest. With the dice of this conventional type it is obviously not possible to increase the number of possible different results for each throw above six unless the number of faces of the die is increased by giving the die a non-cubic shape, which is, however, generally not desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the invention has for its object to provide a playing die of which the total number of possible different results on each throw can be a plurality of the number of faces of the die and, in the case of a cubeshaped die, can be made a plurality of six.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a cube-shaped playing die providing a total number of thirty-six possible different results for each throw whereby the die may be used to play a game somewhat similar to the conventional roulette game.

The playing die according to the invention generally comprises a substantially polyhedral, preferably cubeshaped body having a recessed chamber formed in each of its faces, which chamber comprises a bottom wall, a side wall and a transparent outer wall and has a plurality of pockets formed therein arranged along the chamber side wall. In each of said chambers at least one ball is arranged for free movement therein and capable of entering any one of said pockets.

On throwing the die, the ball in the chamber of the die face which is turned upward as the die comes to rest, will enter into one of the pockets of this chamber and thus determines the result of the throw. Obviously, the total number of possible different results of a single throw is thus equal to the product of the number of faces of the die and the number of pockets in the chambers in the die faces, assuming that each chamber comprises the same number of pockets.

The respective chamber pockets may be individually marked by suitable means so as to allow a quick reading of the result of a throw of the die. The chambers preferably have a circular peripheral side wall and a bottom with a raised center portion and sloping downwardly from this raised center in all directions towards the side Wall along which the pockets are arranged. The ball in the chamber of the upwardly facing die face will thus roll down the sloping chamber bottom to enter one of the pockets, These pockets may be obtained by providing a plurality of rib portions arranged symmetrically in the chamber and each extending over a short distance radially inwardly from the chamber side wall so as to partition the chamber at its periphery into a plurality of pockets open ing inwardly towards the bottom center. This arrangement assures that the ball in the chamber will always enter one of the pockets at the chamber periphery.

According to a preferred embodiment, each chamber has six radial rib portions partitioning the chamber at its periphery into six pockets of equal width. The total number of thirty-six compartments thus obtained can be numbered from 1 to 36 by suitable printing and the pockets of each chamber can be alternately colored black and red in the manner of the roulette wheel. With this arrangement the die can be used to play a game similar to the well known roulette-game.

However, the number of pockets of each chamber may be different from six and need not be the same for each chamber and the individual pockets may be marked with symbols other than numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and objects of the invention will appear more fully from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing as an example an embodiment of the playing die according to the invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the die as seen on the line II of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the faces of the die.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, there is shown a playing die having a molded body 1 of a suitable plastic which body is substantially cube-shaped with rounded ribs and corner portions. To reduce the weight of the body 1 the latter is substantially hollow, having cavities formed therein on each of its six faces. Each of said cavities comprises an inner conical part 2 extending almost to the center of the cube-shaped body, the six conical cavity parts 2 being separated from each other by thin walls 4. Each conical cavity part 2 extends outwardly into a cylindrical cavity part 5 which in its turn extends into an annular recess 6 of larger diameter. The body 1 may be made by casting in a suitable mold comprising six inserts for forming the above described composite cavities.

A cup-shaped plastic member 7 is fitted into each of the cylindrical cavity parts 5, the cylindrical side wall of the member 7 being bonded to the cylindrical wall of the cavity part 5. The cup-shaped member 7 has a bottom surface 8 having a raised center portion and sloping downwardly in all radial directions so as to be substantially cone-shaped, the expression downwardly here being used with reference to the upper face of the die.

A cup 10 made of a suitable sheet metal is arranged in the member 7 with a close fit. The metal cup 10 has a bottom 11 corresponding in shape to the conical bottom surface 8 of the member 7, a cylindrical side wall 12 and a radially outwardly extending flange 13 overlying the annular bottom of the recess 6.

A substantially disc-shaped cover member 14 made of transparent plastic is press-fitted into the metal cup 10 and the recess 6. The cover member forms an outer wall spaced from the bottom 11 of the metal cup 10 and extending into a flange portion 15 which together with the flange 13 of the metal cup completely fills the annular recess 6, the flat outer surface of the cover member lying flush with the face of the cube-shaped body 1. Th cover'member has a downwardly projecting cylin drical skirt 17 closely fitting in the cylindrical side wall 12 of the metal cup and, provided with a plurality, of equally spaced rib portions 18, each extending a short distance radially inwardlyl towards the raised center of the bottom 11 of the metal cup 10. Although, as shown, there are preferably six ribs 18, any other suitable number of ribs maylbe chosen. At least one of the ribs 18 has at its lower side a downwardly projecting lugportion 19 which fits into a hole provided in the bottom 11 of the metal cup 10 and in the bottom of the member 7 so as to hold the cover member 14 and the metal cup 10 in a predetermined relative angular position.

The cover member 14 and the metal cup 11 comprise between them a closed chamber which is partitioned at its periphery by the six ribs 18 into six compartments or pockets of equal width. A metal ball 26 is placed in this chamber for free movement therein and can enter any one of the six peripheral chamber pockets. It is to be' understood that each. of the six faces of the die comprises a ball-containing chamber as above described, which chambers are all similar in shape and are each arranged centrally of the dieface. From the foregoing it will be clear that when the die is thrown and comes to rest, the ball 20 in the chamber of the die face lying uppermost will roll along the conical chamber bottom ll into one of the peripheral chamber pockets comprised; between the radial ribs 18. Theball in the chamber of the downwardly facing die face will rest on the cover member 14 and the balls in the chambers of the four'vertical die faces will each enter one :of the lower chamber pockets thereof (FIG. 1). g

The bottom l1, sidewall 12 and flange 13 of the metal cup 10 carry a continuous colored configaration printed or otherwise applied thereon which divides the surface thereof into six contiguous sector-shaped areas 21, as shown in FIG. 2, the radial boundary lines between said surface areas passing through the respective ribs 18. The sector-shaped areas 21 may be printed in two alternating colors, preferably black and red. The sectors 21 are individually marked by numbers 22 printed orr the flange 13 of the metal cup which numbers thus serve to distinguish the several pockets between the ribs 18 into which the ball 29 may enter. The die thus has thirtysix of such pockets and corresponding colored sectors which may be numbered from 1 to 36, respectively, in a somewhat similar way as are the thirty-six positions for the ball of a conventional roulette wheel, in which, however, there is no zero position.

It will be clear that within the scope of the invention many changes and modifications of the above described embodiment may be resorted to not only as regards the structural features of the die but also as regards the number of pockets in each of the chambers and the way in which these pockets are distinguished from one another by proper markings, such as different colors, numbers or other symbols. It is also possible to place for instance two metal balls 16 in each chamber.

What is claimed is:

1. A playing die comprising a substantially cube-shaped body with six faces, each of said faces having a recessed chamber arranged centrally therein, each chamber having a peripheral side wall and a bottom having a raised center portion and sloping downwardly from said center portion in all directions towards said peripheral side wall, a plurality of rib portions arranged symmetrically in said chamber a h extend v r a shs t d s ance radi lly inwardly from said side wall so as to partition said chamber at its periphery into a plurality'of pockets opening inwardly towards said bottom center portion, a cover member of transparent material closing off said chamber on its outwardly facing side, and a ball placed for free movement insidesaid chamber and capable of entering any one of said pockets, means being provided allowing said respective pockets to be individually identified.

2. The playing die of claim 1, in which each of said faces of the cube-shaped body has an annular recess formed therein encircling said chamber, the bottom of said recess carrying markings for identifying said respective chamber pockets, said cover member comprising a peripheral flange portion fitting in said annular recess.

3. The playing die of claim 2 in which said body has a cayity formed in each of its faces, a substantially cupshaped member of sheet metal being arrangedin each of said cavities, said sheet metal cup member having a substantiallyfcone shaped bottom wall and a substantially cylindrical side wall forming;said chamber bottom and chamber side wall, respectively, and further having an upper flange portion extending radially outwardly into said recess underneath said cover member flange portion. The playing die of claim 3 in which the surface of said flange portion, side wall and bottom wall of said sheet metal cup member carries a printed colored configuration dividing said surface into a plurality of contiguous sector-shaped areas, the radial boundary lines between said areas passing through said rib portions and extending from the bottom center across said bottom,'side wall and flange portion, respectively, to the periphery of the latter.

5. The playing die of claim 4 in which said flange portion of each of said sheet metal cup members is further marked with symbols arranged on said sector-shaped surface areas for individually distinguishing each of said re spective areas and pockets of the die.

6. The playing die of claim .1, in which said rib portions are formed integrally with said transparent cover member, projecting downwardly therefrom into said chamber.

"If The playing die according to claim 6 in which at least one of said rib portions has on its iower side a downwardly protecting lug portion, said chamber bottom having a recess for receiving said lug portion so as to define the angular position of said cover member with respect to said chamber bottom.

8. The playing die according to ciaim 1 in which said body is substantiaily hollow, having six cavities formed therein, each of said cavities having an axis extending perpendicular to one of the faces of said body and passing through the center of the latter, and each of said cavities comprising an inner conical portion extending outwardly to a substantially cylindrical cavity portion openingin one of the faces of the body and comprising said chamber.

9. The playing die of claim in which said conical cavity portion is closed off by an insert member fitted in said cylindrical cavity portion and leaving suflicient space in said latter cavity portion for forming said chamber therein.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 75,700 6/1894 Germany.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner ARNOLD. W. K RAMER, Assistant Examiner 

